Deals & Drops: Write Notepads Restock!

January 21, 2022

After you all wiped us out over Christmas, we had to do a post-New Year’s restock on Write Notepads products, and our shipment arrived yesterday! We now have a additional Landscape Notebooks, Weekly Planners, Meeting Notebooks, Engineer Notebooks and Memo Pads, and more. January is a great time to stock up on your favorite workhorse stationery products for the New Year, and we’ll keep alerting you to more new arrivals and incoming new products.

All links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, unless otherwise noted. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Write Notepads Landscape Notebooks. These lined wirebound notebooks use a landscape-style orientation for those who like to have a notebook sitting beneath their keyboard, or who otherwise just want to avoid having your hand rub against the spiral binding. .
Write Notepads Weekly Planner. It’s been a while since we’ve had these in stock, but we recently received more of the Write Notepads undated weekly planners, which allow you to plan out a week on two pages. The planner is undated, meaning that you can use it every day, or just when you need it.
Write Notepads Meeting Notebook. Fans of Cornell-style notetaking will love the Write Notepads Meeting Notebook (and for those who don’t want a bound version, Meeting Memo Pads are also available).
Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook. I personally use one of these hardcover notebooks as my commonplace book. They’re now available in both lined and dot grid paper.
Write Notepads Paper Notebook/Journal. We were finally able to bring these back, at least in some of the colors. These slim A5 paper notebooks are infinitely useful, for those who prefer a more slender format.
Write Notepads Engineer Notebooks and Engineer Memo Pads. Prefer grid paper? Love the smell of wax on your waterproof notebook cover that will travel with you into the field? You won’t want to miss these.
Kokuyo Perpanep Zara Zara A5 Notebooks. These A5 notebooks from Kokuyo feature fountain pen friendly “Zara Zara” paper and come in a wide variety of rulings, including grid and dot grid in multiple widths, as well as a steno ruling!
Kokuyo Sketch Book and Trip Book Hardcover Pocket Notebooks. Durable, colorful, and useful for anything from list-making to journaling, these have largely replaced softcover pocket notebooks in my own rotation.
Rhodia Webnotebook. A true stationery classic, especially if you’re looking to update your classic “Black A5 Notebook” game. Rhodia makes some of the best all-around paper available.
Clairefontaine French-ruled Looseleaf Paper. We still have some Clairefontaine A5 looseleaf sheets and double booklets available! This was an import order so it may be a while before things come back in stock.

Paper Review: What Is Bank Paper, and Why Is It So Popular?

January 19, 2022

Though the fear and FOMO has since subsided, the rumored demise of Tomoe River paper prompted many manufacturers and enthusiasts to begin searching for the “next big thing” to replace it as the go-to option for fountain pen friendly paper. One alternative that kept popping up was “Bank Paper,” a product originally developed by Mitsubishi for the high-end office market. While it offers a different writing experience from Tomoe River Paper, it’s yet another ink-friendly paper that’s becoming more available in the U.S., and which I personally enjoy very much.

Life Bank Paper "Three Diamonds" Watermark — The classic Mitsubishi “Three Diamonds” watermark adds some vintage flair that I adore. You can also see some of the texture here.

What strikes me the most about Bank Paper is the tactile feel. The paper has a slight texture to it - not nearly as pronounced as a heavier bond paper or antique laid paper like Original Crown Mill, but it’s there. Some may enjoy it, some not, depending entirely on personal preference. It reminds me of the business letterhead I used to steal from my Dad’s office as a kid.

Life Bank Paper Writing Sample — Most Bank Paper is ivory, so your inks may look slightly different than they would on bright white stock. Performance, however, is exceptional.

Performance-wise, you won’t go wrong with Bank Paper. Like most ink-friendly papers, it can be somewhat slow to dry, but I had no issues with usability. (As noted below, the Life Bank Paper Writing Pad shown here ships with a large piece of blotter paper, in case you find yourself using especially wet nibs or slower-drying inks.) While there is some show-through, I experienced zero feathering or bleeding, as should be expected of a paper at this price point.

Life-Bank-Paper-Reverse-Writing — Zero bleed. I’d characterize this as the ultimate office paper, and is something I could use every day if it weren’t so pricey.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I love the look, feel, and overall writing experience that Bank Paper offers. I sometimes find Tomoe River paper (or at least the 52gsm variety) too smooth for my preference, and enjoy the more tactile Bank Paper texture. I also tend to prefer ivory paper over bright white for written correspondence. For those few letters I write, I can see myself turning to Bank Paper, and once I work my way through my enormous journal backlog, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this paper in a notebook (with a blotter sheet as necessary).

Bank Paper is no longer so specialized that you can’t easily find it. We sell the letter-sized Bank Paper writing pads from Life Stationery, which contain 100 sheets and a full-size piece of blotter paper, perfect for stocking up in advance of InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month). Another option are the paper sampler packs from Yamamoto Paper, which have a Bank Paper option. And Atelier Musubi has long offered certain of its handbound journals with Bank Paper.

Finally, I wanted to alert all of you to a new product that recently hit the market: Bank Paper notebooks from The Paper Mind, a new venture from a pen enthusiast and former stationery blogger who recently started a company focused on high-end notebooks with fountain pen friendly paper. Currently available in A5 size, these notebooks feature 192 pages of lined Bank Paper in a stitched lie-flat binding. Be sure to check these out and support this sort of creativity in bringing new products like this to market!

I will note that none of the Bank Paper options are inexpensive - $28 for the writing pad, and $35 for the notebook - but this is imported specialty paper, after all, and I get the impression Bank Paper is a highly specialized product, even for Japan, that’s not made in large quantities. The things we do for an exceptional writing experience!

I received the Paper Mind Notebook pictured here for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, but does contain links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Clairefontaine A5 French-Ruled Looseleaf

Stock Update: Clairefontaine French-Ruled Paper Went Fast

January 18, 2022

Just a short note here for those of you hoping to land some of the Clairefontaine French-ruled looseleaf paper: I’ve sold through a huge chunk of my shipment over the last three days! The reaction to this particular product has been bigger than anything I’ve ever tried to do before in the shop, and I’m going to order more of it immediately. The problem is, since it’s an import product, it will likely take a while. As of now, we are completely sold out of the A4 single sheets, and very low on both A5 single sheets and the 100-packs of A4 booklets. If you were looking to get your hands on some, don’t sleep on it.

You can check out our entire offerings of Clairefontaine products here. Note that we’ve also recently added lined wirebound notebooks in the A5 size.

By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

More slush, now, and ice — More slush, snow, and ice on the way, which prevented me from getting to the Philly Pen Show this weekend. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out the show, which runs through today!

Sunday Reading for January 16, 2022

January 16, 2022

My Writing Style (via Dapprman). We all have different writing styles and preferences, which affect anything from what types of pens and nibs we enjoy to how we hold the pen to how much pressure we use.
Thoughts on Handwriting (via UK Fountain Pens). I also generally prioritize the act of writing over the art of writing, though I’ve recently been exploring more art and calligraphy as a less work-focused hobby.
Stickers, Washi Tapes, & More (via InkSharks). I’m just as guilty with my consumables, especially things like Washi tape, sticky notes, and stickers. I likewise have made a conscious decision to use more of these things however I can.
Laban Skeleton: Perfect if Bling Is Your Thing (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve never been drawn to “skeleton-style” pens, but I know many who enjoy Laban’s version. There is a gunmetal/ruthenium finish that looks great.
State of the Art: Talking Myself Out of Things (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). A skill I have yet to master.
Wearingeul Jekyll to Hyde Ink Set (via Mountain of Ink). These color-changing inks from Korean company Wearingeul continues their literature-inspired theme. I have not yet tried any Wearingeul inks, which I believe are available only on Amazon.
Sailor x Tinterias: A Deliciously Inky Combination (via Pen Addict). I picked up one of Tinterias food-themed inks (“Homemade Tortillas”) back in October at the Chicago Pen Show. Kimberly reviews both colors.
Analog Coping Mechanisms (via From the Pen Cup). More from Mary on why these things we love are important.
Never Too Late to Start Planning (via Well-Appointed Desk). Indeed, I’m still tweaking/perfecting my own setup, especially on the journaling front.

In Case You Missed It…

This week on the blog I wrote a piece about natural (undyed) leather, which has become a personal favorite of mine over the years as I’ve learned to love items with a more worn/used look. I also introduced a new product with a bit of a story behind it to The Curated Shop: French-ruled looseleaf sheets and booklets from Clairefontaine! Read on to hear a bit more about why I love this unique paper, and how I discovered it.

This Week in The Curated Shop

Apart from the main Clairefontaine paper dump, we continue to add new woodcase pencils, including the Edelweiss 3B from Caran d’Ache, which sold out immediately the first time we stocked them. There are plenty now! This week’s Deals & Drops post has additional details! Also, note that the Caran d’Ache Infinite ballpoint and mechanical pencil are apparently being discontinued. we were able to stock another round of the ballpoints but I’m down to about two pencils, so if you’re interested now’s the time.

Clairefontaine

Caran D'Ache Fixpencil

Caran d'Ache 888 Infinite

TWSBI

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The Paper Product That Started It All! French-Ruled Looseleaf Sheets and Booklets Are Finally Here

January 15, 2022

Yes, as you might have guessed, it’s Clairefontaine French-Ruled (Seyes-ruled) paper, but not in notebook form. I finally managed to source looseleaf sheets of this paper in both A4 and A5 size, taking me back to when I could travel freely and schlepped suitcases full of this paper back from France because I couldn’t find a reliable source that stocked it in the U.S. You can read more about my love affair with French-ruled paper here, including how I first discovered it and why I like using it so much.

As part of my initial order - which had to be imported as part of a special order through Exaclair, Clairefontaine’s U.S. distributor - I managed to get my hands on single sheets in both A5 and A4 size, as well as the coveted Clairefontaine booklet-style A4 double sheets, which combine four pages of writing into a versatile format that I love to use to make flowcharts, outline oral arguments for my legal practice, draft longer documents, and more. I’ve been down to my last pack and have been using them only sparingly. (If nobody buys any, at least I’ll have a personal lifetime supply! For a stationery addict, there is nothing more satisfying that looking at a warehouse full of hundreds of packs of high-end paper. but I digress.)

Availability and Pricing Information

Ok, so I bought a LOT of this paper. Feel free to stock up. When I’ve had it readily available, this has served as my default looseleaf paper for most of my writing, and I used to burn through packs of it regularly. I personally can’t wait to get this back in my rotation, and I’m working on a large work project right now that’s going to be the perfect use-case for these double booklets. If this sells well, there are other formats and options I can stock, including colors such as pink and blue, but I started relatively small since an import order requires me to purchase large quantities, and this is still very much an experiment.

As of this morning, looseleaf French-ruled paper is live and available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. One of the reasons I love Clairefontaine paper is that it’s relatively inexpensive for how good it is. The single sheets are priced at $6.50 for a pack of 100 A5 sheets, and $9.50 for 100 A4 sheets. The double sheets (or booklets), are priced at $6.50 for 50 sheets, and $10 for 100. Finally, a note on shipping - I know it’s expensive relative to the price of a single pack, but paper is heavy and nearly always needs to go USPS Priority or UPS. From a value perspective, it’s probably best to purchase 2-3 packs of this to make up for the shipping charge, or to do a couple of major stock-up purchases per year and hit the free shipping threshold, currently set at $75.